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Elite Israeli Air Force unit flying G550s

Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and Israeli Aerospace Industries have had a long and mutually productive relationship, with IAI building the smaller Gulfstream G150 and G280 business jets in Tel Aviv.

But a different kind of relationship between Gulfstream and Israel was pointed out last week by the Israeli Consulate General in Atlanta when he revealed the Israel Defense Force Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz had cited the elite Nahshon Squadron of the Israeli Air Force for its outstanding performance during several top-secret missions.

Acting as the “eyes and ears” of the Israeli defense forces on an almost daily basis, the squadron operates a fleet of Gulfstream G550 planes equipped with advanced Israeli-made surveillance and control technology that allows it to detect aircraft movement from long distances.

According to Flight International magazine, the Israeli Air Force has used versions of transports such as the Douglas DC-3 and Boeing 707 for missions involving airborne early warning and electronic intelligence-gathering. But faced with more sophisticated threats, the service several years ago decided to upgrade its capabilities to the G550.

“We’re happy that the product is performing well for them,” said Steve Cass, Gulfstream’s vice president for communications. “Beyond that, we can’t comment.”

Aviation Week reported last week that the military version of the G550 jet has an extended service ceiling of 51,000 feet, a surveillance range of more than 250 miles, an endurance of 10 hours and carries 10 to 12 operators.

According to foreign reports, the Nahshon Squardron led the attack on Syria’s nuclear reactor and the bombing of an arms depot in Sudan. It would be expected to lead a strike on Iran, should the need arise.